Description

Move beyond step-by-step tutorials and help students become confident computational thinkers! These Scratch Jr. and Scratch Task Cards are designed to teach the foundational concepts of computer science through short, engaging coding challenges. Instead of simply copying a project, students learn to predict, test, debug, and improve their code while building a deep understanding of how programs work.

Perfect for computer labs, STEM classes, coding clubs, library media, technology classes, and classroom coding lessons, these task cards help students build coding skills from Kindergarten through 5th Grade.

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What Students Will Learn

Students develop computational thinking one concept at a time, including:

• ✔ Sequencing (algorithms)
• ✔ Debugging
• ✔ Events
• ✔ Parallel Actions
• ✔ Loops
• ✔ Timing
• ✔ Conditionals (if/then logic)
• ✔ Sensing & User Input
• ✔ Variables
• ✔ Designing complete interactive systems

Rather than asking students to simply “make a game,” these activities help them understand why code works and how programmers think.

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What’s Included

Teacher Guide

• Teaching philosophy
• Computational thinking progression
• K–5 skills progression
• Suggested lesson structure
• Teacher questioning strategies
• Reflection prompts
• Assessment ideas
• Vocabulary

Teaching Slides

Explicit instruction for each coding concept, including:

• Student-friendly explanations
• Real-world technology connections
• Scratch Jr. examples
• Scratch examples
• Discussion questions

Scratch Jr. Task Cards (K–2)

Students complete coding challenges focused on:

• Sequences
• Events
• Loops
• Timing

Scratch Task Cards (Grades 3–5)

Students complete coding challenges focused on:

• Sequences
• Events
• Loops
• Timing
• Conditionals
• Sensing & Input
• Variables

Each challenge encourages students to solve a problem independently instead of following a tutorial step-by-step.

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Perfect For

• Elementary Technology Teachers
• Computer Lab Teachers
• STEM Teachers
• Library Media Specialists
• Classroom Teachers
• Coding Clubs
• Gifted Programs
• Homeschool Learning

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Minimal Teacher Prep

Simply:

• Print the task cards (or display digitally)
• Introduce the coding concept using the included slides
• Model one example
• Let students complete the challenges
• Reflect and discuss

 

Great for:

• ✔ Independent practice
• ✔ Partner work
• ✔ Coding centers
• ✔ Early finishers
• ✔ Small groups
• ✔ Whole-class instruction
• ✔ Assessment

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Why Teachers Love These Task Cards

Unlike traditional Scratch lessons that focus on copying a project, these activities encourage students to think like programmers.

Students learn to:

• Predict what their code will do
• Test their ideas
• Find and fix bugs
• Recognize patterns
• Explain their thinking
• Apply coding concepts to new challenges

This approach builds confidence while preparing students for future computer science learning.

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Skills Progression

This resource intentionally builds computational thinking across elementary grades.

• Kindergarten: Give clear directions
• 1st Grade: Make characters act
• 2nd Grade: Control when and how things happen
• 3rd Grade: Make programs react
• 4th Grade: Help programs remember information
• 5th Grade: Design complete interactive systems

Students progress naturally from Scratch Jr. to Scratch, developing the same foundational coding concepts in developmentally appropriate ways.

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Standards Alignment

These activities support elementary computer science instruction and reinforce computational thinking skills found in many state standards, including concepts aligned with CSTA Computer Science Standards and ISTE Standards for Students.